Seconds later, just behind Carter in an interview area, Williams, who'd run in the same race as Carter, passed out on the floor from the heat. Medical personnel called for a stretcher and he was helped out of the area.

Carter later said he thought Williams would be fine.

"The humidity is (hurting) a lot of people," Carter said of Williams' heat episode. "But making it to the finals is going to help him get back on his feet. I'm happy for him."

But Carter didn't know what to say to Jackson. Not now at least. Carter figured it was best to leave him alone.

"That's what I'd want," he said. "What can you say?"

Clement, a two-time U.S. champion, earned a place in the finals by winning his heat. He said he had some work to do - particularly at the end of the race - if he wanted to challenge for the crown.

"I've always had a problem with," that, he said. "Once I iron out those last few things, I'll be fine."

Just before he fell to the ground, Williams stopped and talked about his performance. Williams was one of the front-runners most of the way until he faded down the stretch.

"I was doing fine until my legs locked up in the end," Williams said. "I gave it all I got."

Carter has been living under the shadows of Jackson and Clement. He's hoping he will start to emerge. Carter recently won the U.S. championship.

"Hopefully, this is my year," said Carter, who took second at worlds in 2005. "But it's going to take a great race, maybe even a personal best."

Not that long ago, American soldiers would train their skills to counter insurgent and partisan military organizations. These days, they are trained to show resistance to the regular army of a potential adversary